I’ve been in this place before, the dark, cold, lonely isolation that is depression and anxiety. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a positive person, someone quick to smile and laugh. I’m optimistic, and I savor the beauty of life and the world around me. It has taken effort and practice to be that way, and it’s that effort that leads me out of this place when I find myself trapped here again.

Living with mental health struggles is difficult, and it is painful. It’s not an easy thing to talk about, and it’s not an easy thing to listen to either. I’m grateful for art and it’s ability to share things that sometimes go beyond words. With PTSD, something small and harmless can drag me here in an instant, and unexpectedly. It’s been a long road to find the tools to guide my way out again.